Ping to market limited number of pink drivers

Bubba Watson’s pink driver is headed for golf shops. And golfers don’t have to be left-handed to swing it.

Watson used a pink Ping G20 driver to win the Masters, and soon pink G20s will be sold to consumers with a high-balance-point TFC 169D pink shaft. The driver is expected to be available at retail about June 1.

Lofts are 9.5, 10.5 and 12 degrees for right-handers and 10.5 for left-handers. Shaft flexes are stiff, regular and ladies. The suggested retail price is $430.

Even before Watson’s victory, there was plenty of demand for the pink G20. “Lots of people wanted it,” Ping CEO John Solheim said. “So we decided to make it available and raise some money for Bubba’s charity at the same time.”

Ping already has made a $10,000 upfront donation to Watson’s fundraising campaign. Furthermore, the company is adding $300 for every official drive by Watson that goes at least 300 yards.

So far this year Watson leads the PGA Tour with an average driving distance of 313.1 yards. Jamie Lovemark is second at 307.7 yards.

Ping will donate 5 percent of the proceeds from the sale of pink drivers to Watson’s charity effort. A total of 5,000 pink G20 drivers will be made in a limited-edition production run.

Watson launched “Bubba & Friends Drive to a Million” in January, announcing a goal of raising $1 million for charities this year. Watson is associated with the First Tee of Northwest Florida and the Ronald McDonald House of Pensacola (Fla.).